542 Tunnel of Focus: Monotropism, Trauma, and Thriving with ADHD and Autism with Mattia Mauree
Release Date: 08/23/2024
Coaching Groups: Final Registration Events This Week (A Short Song)
ADHD reWired
Pre-registration for the ADHD reWired Coaching Groups is due Thursday. Registration events are happening Thursday and Friday. The next group starts next week. 👉 For exact dates, times, and next steps, go to: This episode includes a short, experimental song made with Suno Ai explaining the coaching groups. If you’re listening after the registration window closes, future groups will be announced on the website.
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Doing It the Way Your Brain Actually Works (561)
ADHD reWired
What if the reason you haven’t finished the thing you keep thinking about isn’t motivation, discipline, or follow-through — but fit? In this episode, Eric is joined by Katherine Mutti Driscoll, PhD, an AuDHD coach, educator, and author, for a conversation that starts with writing a book and quickly becomes something much bigger: how neurodivergent adults actually get meaningful work done. They explore why so many ADHD and AuDHD adults carry “someday projects” for years, how structure (not willpower) turns intention into action, and why unmasking isn’t just about identity — it’s...
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560 How to Finish Anything with Paulette Perhach
ADHD reWired
If you’ve ever had a week where your intentions were solid… and your follow-through vanished into the void, you’re not alone. In this episode, Eric is joined by writer, teacher, and ADHD coach Paulette Perhach, who shares the FINISH framework: a simple, ADHD-friendly approach to actually completing projects, building consistency, and getting unstuck. Paulette’s take is refreshingly honest: ADHD can feel like the superpower and the kryptonite at the same time. She talks about getting diagnosed at 38, learning to ask for accommodations without shame, and building systems that support...
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559 ADHD & AuDHD Burnout: Why Community & Accountability Still Matter Personal Updates & Listener Questions
ADHD reWired
In the final Q&A of 2025, Eric is joined by ADHD reWired coach Brian for a candid, intimate conversation about ADHD, AuDHD, burnout recovery, unmasking, grief, and what it looks like to rebuild momentum without torching your nervous system in the process. They answer listener questions ranging from “what I wish I knew before my autism diagnosis” to “what burnout actually looks like,” and they zoom out to something simple but powerful: community and accountability aren’t “nice extras,” they’re often the difference between knowing what helps and actually doing it. Also: a...
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When “Fine” Keeps Us Stuck: A Reflection on My Dad, Masking, and Adapting ep 558
ADHD reWired
“I’m Fine”: What My Dad Taught Me About Resisting Help On August 14th, my dad passed away. In the weeks since, I’ve been reflecting on his life, his humor, his resilience — and his signature phrase: “I’m fine.” He said it when he was hooked up to machines in the hospital. He said it when he was on the roof cleaning gutters, even though his balance was shot. And most of the time, he wasn’t fine at all. In this episode, I share some of the lessons I learned from my dad about adapting — and about the cost of resisting it. From the adult trike he never would have bought for...
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Building Systems that work for you (and not the other way around) with Stephanie Blake - Ep 557
ADHD reWired
🧠 Episode Summary: Are you building a business (or a life) that supports your life—or one that runs you into the ground? In this episode of ADHD reWired, Eric Tivers is joined by business systems coach and automation strategist Stephanie Blake. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Stephanie shares how simplifying her business, embracing structure, and getting honest about burnout helped her reclaim her energy and build a business that works for her, not the other way around. They talk about the unique ways ADHD brains thrive with streamlined systems, why too many tools can be a trap, and...
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Hustle, Flow or Let it Go? Lessons from Burnout and Grief - with Dr. Portia Preston - Ep 556
ADHD reWired
What does it really mean to know when to push, when to pause, and when to let go? In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Portia Preston returns to ADHD reWired to share insights from her book Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? We talk about burnout, shame-free wellness, and the small practices that can help us create a more sustainable rhythm in life. This episode weaves together stories of resilience and grief, the reality of living with ADHD and autism, and Portia’s SANE model (Slow down, Acknowledge, Navigate, Evaluate)—a simple framework to help you reset when overwhelm takes over. We also talk...
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People Pleasing & ADHD: When "Yes" is a Nervous-System Response and How to Stop with Anita Sandoval, LPC - EP 555
ADHD reWired
People-pleasing isn’t a personality flaw—often it’s a nervous-system strategy. Licensed Professional Counselor and ADHD-CCSP Anita Sandoval joins Eric to unpack how the fawn response shows up with ADHD, trauma, and RSD; how it differs from masking and conflict avoidance; and what real change looks like. We cover Anita’s “Empower → Resilient → Authentic” model, ADHD-friendly EMDR adaptations, and the messy-but-worth-it work of boundaries (including with narcissistic family dynamics). Resources, Anita’s links, and a quick survey about a potential evening coaching group are in...
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554 | OCD with ADHD: Could your anxiety be OCD? with Natalia Aíza
ADHD reWired
What is OCD, really? It’s far more than the stereotypes of handwashing, tapping, or lining up your pens just right. On today’s episode, Eric is joined by Natalia Aíza — a therapist, parent, writer, and co-founder of Kairos Wellness Collective — who specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating OCD and anxiety. Together, they explore how OCD can show up in less obvious ways, especially for those with ADHD. You’ll hear: ✅ Why OCD is often missed or misdiagnosed in ADHD brains ✅ How intense nostalgia, perfectionism, and social media checking can all be forms of...
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The ADHD Productivity Manual with Ari Tuckman, PSY.D, MBA
ADHD reWired
Support Comes from ADHD reWIred's Coaching and Accountability Groups. Summer Sessions are July 24 - Sept 18. Join us at our next registration event on July 10th. Learn more by going to Episode Overview: In this episode, Eric is joined by Ari Tuckman, PSY.D, MBA, psychologist, international presenter, and author of the new "ADHD Productivity Manual." Together, they dive deep into the realities of productivity for people with ADHD, exploring motivation, activation, self-compassion, and practical strategies for getting things done. Key Topics Discussed: The difference between...
info_outlineIn this episode of ADHD reWired, Eric Tivers is joined by Mattia Mauree, an award-winning composer, poet, and host of the AUDHD Flourishing Podcast. Mattia shares their insights into the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD and autism, as they navigate trauma, self-expression, and what they describe as "attention tunnels."
Mattia opens up about their personal journey, discussing the impact of complex PTSD, disordered eating, and their late diagnoses of ADHD and autism. They explain how monotropism—having a narrower field of focus—shapes their experience as a neurodivergent person. Through the lens of monotropism, Mattia explores how being stuck in an attention tunnel can make transitioning to different tasks or social situations feel overwhelming and distressing.
Eric and Mattia dive deep into the intersections of trauma and neurodivergence, examining how neurodivergent brains may be more easily traumatized, especially in environments that fail to meet their unique needs. They discuss the profound impact of neurodivergent parents raising neurodivergent children and the challenges of navigating systems that don’t support their differences.
This conversation also highlights the importance of self-expression in healing and flourishing. Mattia explains how self-expression, rather than achievement, has become central to their definition of success, emphasizing the importance of creating work that resonates emotionally, even if it doesn't fit the traditional metrics of success.
Other topics discussed include:
- The connection between hyperfocus and monotropism in ADHD and autism
- How Mattia balances creativity, self-care, and flourishing as a neurodivergent individual
- The complexity of navigating trauma in neurodivergent families
- The importance of community and support systems for neurodivergent creatives and entrepreneurs
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay of trauma, neurodivergence, and flourishing. Whether you identify as neurodivergent or are simply curious about these experiences, this conversation offers valuable insights into the importance of creating space for self-expression, healing, and growth.
Connect with Mattia Mauree:
- Website: AUDHDFlourishing.com
- Podcast: AUDHD Flourishing
Support ADHD reWired on Patreon:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, consider becoming a patron at ADHDrewired.com/Patreon. Your support helps keep the podcast going and brings more episodes to listeners like you!
Join ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Groups:
Our coaching groups return this fall! Learn how to manage your ADHD more effectively in a supportive, community-based program. Visit coachingrewired.com to get all the details.